Performing ‘jewels’ on marquee

     NWPR-OH – He has been performing since the early 1970s and during the 1980s, was on the concert circuit of folk and dulcimer festivals. Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer Maker and Performer Doug Berch says, “I am inspired by the traditional music of the world, the rock and roll I grew up with and anything else that comes along,” and he will deliver his amazing sounds at the Troy-Hayner Cultural at 7:30 pm on Friday, January 21.

     Aside from past honors in the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship and the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship, a recording by him that featured a tune composed on hammered dulcimer, “Ocean of Wisdom,” was also re-recorded by other noted hammered dulcimer players. In addition, Berch’s work appears on dozens of albums and soundtracks as a support musician. Also for over a decade, he has performed, recorded and toured with the Celtic ensemble, “Colcannon,” including has instructed at the Swallow Hill School of Music in Denver, Colorado.

     The concert is presented free and open to the public and for more on Doug see: www.dougberch.com.

Drama on the billboard

     The Mad River Theater Works production of “John Henry” comes to stage on Saturday, January 22 at 7:30 pm. This West Liberty, Ohio theater company performs plays that are drawn from and produced for the people of the rural Midwest as well as audiences from throughout the country and the world.

     With the used of storytelling, drama and music, ‘Mad River’ will bring the story of this American folklore legend to life. John Henry is a tale that delivers a strong contemporary parallel about the importance of our humanity in the face of changing technology.

     Born in poverty in rural West Virginia, his incredible size and strength became legendary as he worked laying track for the railroads that intersected the countryside in the late 19^th century. Henry’s skill and his endurance were unbeatable, until the invention of the steam-powered machine. Although he was the winner in that famous competition between him and the machine, he passed soon afterwards of a broken heart because he realized his days were numbered because ordinary men could not compete with the iron workhorses of the industrial revolution.

     Again, this performance is also free and open to the public and for more on the performers see: www.madrivertheater.org.

The ‘Chamber’ to be filled with softness

     Cellist and composer Deborah Netanel will perform with pianist Nicholas Durcan at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 25, Troy-Hayner’s first Aeolian Chamber Concert Series of the season, which is free and open to the public.

     With an extensive repertoire range from classical to Klezmer, Netanel has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Hong Kong, on the Queen Elizabeth2 and Fred Olsen cruise ships, including she has recorded for Prague Radio and Vienna Modern Masters. In addition, she is a graduate of Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. www.deborahnetanel.com.

     Nicholas Duran is a prize winning student at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he has studied the piano with Hamish Milne and the organ with Alan Harverson. As an organist, he has given recitals at the cathedrals of Westminster, St Paul’s, Southwark and Lincoln.

     Early in his career, he was invited to perform at the 1984 Promenade Concerts with the National Orchestra of Wales, where his concerto debut was in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Since, he has performed at the Royal Festival Hall with the London Mozart Players, including other European and Western countries.

     For more information, call 513-339-0457 or see www.troyhayner.org.